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London – 21st century
“No. I will not allow this.”
The older woman made the statement flatly, inviting no argument. Guinevere met the hazel eyes and smiled softly. “I don’t see that we have much choice,” she replied.
“Not after everything you’ve been through.”
“We’ve been through.”
“It might upset the timeline even further.”
“Yes,” Guinevere agreed. “But it could set it right, too.”
“Your physical condition—“
“—won’t suffer because of the time travel. We both know that. Just look at Robert.”
They stood a moment longer, not entirely eye-to-eye because Guinevere was taller than the other woman was. And they didn’t speak because, after all these years, they knew each other so well that speech sometimes wasn’t necessary. And that was why Guinevere’s eyes began to swim with tears. She observed the same in the other woman’s eyes, eyes that she knew reflected hers exactly. Same shape. Same color. Nothing else about the two women was the same – except their strength and determination.
Guinevere had never quite been aware of when it had happened, but somewhere along the line, the two of them had switched roles. She put her arms around the older woman, striving to comfort and reassure her.
“I have to go. We both know that I’m the one most qualified. I’ve studied the Glass since I was a little girl. I know it.” She pulled back a bit. “Robert made the first journey because he knew the Glass, too. He’d been through it before. Now it’s my turn. And it’s our only hope.”
The other woman brushed graying hair from her face and wiped the tears away. She nodded. “Be careful,” she said, kissing the younger woman on the cheek. “And watch out for me. I could be really stubborn back then.”
Guinevere laughed. “As if you aren’t now! But don’t worry. I think I know by now how to handle my big sis.” She hugged the woman tightly. “I love you, Buffy.”
“I love you,” Buffy replied.
The Looking Glass began to glow softly, invitingly. Guinevere pulled away and walked over to it. “I know, I know. You’re waiting,” she said, addressing the ornately decorated mirror. “You’re awfully impatient for something immortal.” Not chancing a look back at her older sister, Guinevere took a deep breath and began to recite the spell that would take her back in time.
***** Sunnydale – 20th century
Willow, Oz, Xander, Cordelia, Wesley, and Angel were all frozen in time, holding stakes and crossbows and vials of holy water, looking like statues in some macabre play. Buffy and Robert watched as vampires Wolf, Meg, and Wolfie began to inch ever so slightly toward them. And then Wolf bragged about killing the Summers and Giles families.
Icy fear seized Buffy’s heart. “My parents?” Her voice was weak. “Our parents?”
Wolf laughed. “Well, you didn’t think I’d let them live, did you? Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Wolf Fergusson. And these lovely people are my daughter Meg and my son Wolfie. Well, I consider him to be my son. And your mother and stepfather are the reason we’re here.” As he spoke, Meg and Wolfie moved away from him. Instantly, Slayer mode kicked in and Buffy shoved aside her anguish at hearing about her mother and Giles. And, she reminded herself, possibly her father. They all might be dead at Wolf’s hands – or fangs – in the future.
But this was the now. The present. Buffy spared a split second to shoot Robert a nasty look, letting him know that she’d being demanding answers. He acknowledged the glare, and for the first time, Buffy realized that this man really knew her. Knew her as only one family member could know another.
She grabbed a stake. Robert pulled one from inside his coat. Good. Little brother obviously picked up some things from his dad.
Wolf continued talking. “Your own father, Buffy, was the easiest to get to. Good thing that you never chose to tell him of your activities as the Slayer. Meg simply approached him as he was leaving work one evening, asked him the time, and…” Another laugh came from Wolf.
Buffy swallowed the painful lump in her throat. [Concentrate] she thought. [Tune out what he’s saying and concentrate on what he’s doing.]
“Your mother. Of course, she was much older than I remembered. Very brave, though. Right up until Meg ripped out her heart. And ate it. In front of your stepfather.”
“Don’t listen to him, Buffy,” Robert whispered. But she couldn’t help but listen. And she couldn’t stop the tears that sprang to her eyes. Her mother. Dead. In such a horrible way.
Wolf moved a bit more to his right; Wolfie, to his left. They were both within Buffy’s line of vision. Meg wasn’t. As before, through some unspoken communication, Robert knew what she was thinking. “Meg’s at the cage,” he murmured.
The cage. Meg was planning to release the other vampires. And, Buffy surmised, Wolf would probably know of some way to free the demons that were frozen in time. Then there would be thirteen against two. And Buffy and Robert – and the others – would be vamp food.
Wolf chuckled. “Please spare yourselves the trouble of trying to find a way out of this. You’ll only cause yourself misery. Very much like Giles. I did admire the way he fought, especially for an older man. Right up until the end. But when he saw his beloved Joyce die, well, I guess you could say that the heart went right out of him.”
Buffy’s stomach turned as the three vampires began to laugh at the sick humor. She wondered if she’d ever again be able to enjoy listening to a Scottish accent.
While time may have stopped everywhere else, Robert and Buffy’s time was growing short. She could almost feel her brother preparing to move for Meg. Buffy set her mind on tackling Wolf. Enough of letting the demon call the shots.
Before anyone could move, the light in the library changed. By this time, Buffy recognized the soft golden glow of the Mirror. Wolf’s reaction, however, amazed her. He was scared. Really scared. Meg ran back toward him. Wolfie, too, moved closer to Wolf.
“’Bout bloody time!” Robert hissed. Then Buffy understood.
The cavalry was about to ride over the hill.
She didn’t know what the Glass would do or who might come through. But the fact that Wolf didn’t know either was what frightened him.
An explosion shook the floor and walls of the library and a woman seemed to fly from the Mirror. She landed almost at Buffy’s feet, doing the same tuck and roll that Robert had managed upon his entrance. At the same instant, time resumed in the library.
Everything happened at once. The stranger jumped to her feet, a stake in her hand, poised and ready for action. Snarls and growls emerged from the cage as the vampires were once again able to move. The gang carried through with motions begun before they were frozen, only to find that their adversaries were safely confined. Buffy heard startled statements of “what the hell?” from Xander and Oz.
The odds had suddenly gotten a whole lot better.
***** Scotland – 19th century
Joyce kept an arm around Amanda, letting the girl cry. How could fate be so cruel as to demand from these young women their lives and their childhood? Joyce understood the greater good and the necessity of fighting the vampires and demons. But when she saw the consequences, her heart ached for the loss of innocence. And now the Slayer had lost her Watcher.
They sat under a tree. Rupert was on the other side of Amanda, patting the girl’s hand. His condition worried Joyce. He seemed to be getting weaker. And in that state, he could not fight the infection that was growing worse. For the first time she also noticed the gray in his hair and the lines around his eyes. It was almost as though they had increased just in the past two days. Perhaps the sunlight was making them more apparent.
Hearing Amanda’s sobs subsiding, Joyce lifted the girl’s chin and searched her blue eyes. “Where is your family?” she asked.
Amanda shook her head. “I’ve none,” she replied. “Mr. Barnes – Mr. Barnes was the only one I had who was like family.”
Joyce assessed the situation. Somehow she knew that the earthquake had been caused by a disruption in the timeline. Joyce could feel it. It was the connection to the Mirror that made her certain. But now things were calm. Something else had occurred, something that might right time itself.
But the damage was done here. Mr. Barnes was dead. Amanda was distraught. Rupert was ill. They were out in the middle of nowhere and Joyce wasn’t sure where they were supposed to be headed.
All in all it was pretty disheartening.
She came to a decision. “Amanda? Can you lead us back to Mort Grange?”
The Slayer wiped her eyes on her sleeve. “Aye.”
“Could we make it there before dark?”
“Aye.”
Rupert looked up sharply. “Joyce—“
She ignored him. “Good. We’ll water the horses first. And fill the deerskins again. We’re going back there.”
Amanda stood. “But Mr. Barnes. We canna just leave him there.”
Joyce got to her feet and pulled the girl into her arms again. “I’m sorry, Amanda, but we can’t reach him. And we don’t have the time. Not if we want to reach safety by nightfall. We’ll come back as soon as we can and place a marker where he fell.”
Fresh tears shimmered in the girl’s eyes. She nodded. “Aye,” she murmured. Taking the reins of her horse and Mr. Barnes’s, she led them toward the stream.
Rupert spoke up again. “Joyce, we have to go after Ramsey.”
Joyce picked up the deerskin that Amanda had filled with water. She sat down beside Rupert and gave it to him. “Drink as much as that as you can hold,” she told him. “You’re running a fever.”
“Darling—“
Holding up a hand to silence him, Joyce continued. “Save your breath. You’re sick. Amanda’s upset. We’re all hungry and miles from any help. There are four days left until the eclipse, when the Mirror’s power will be at its strongest, so we have some time to rest and recover.”
Rupert took a long swallow of the water before speaking. He shook his head at Joyce. “Barnes said that Ramsey has fey blood. He can control the Glass.” Leaning his head back against the tree, Rupert closed his eyes. “We have to stop him.”
Joyce put her arms around Rupert and pulled him close, letting his head rest on her shoulder. “Ramsey may have fairy blood, but he cannot get what he wants from the Glass until the eclipse. We have time. Do you think you can ride?”
“Yes,” came a muffled reply as Rupert nestled more comfortably against her. “Though, at the moment, I don’t want to move from this spot.” He kissed her neck, nuzzling an area he knew to be especially sensitive.
Joyce gasped raggedly, then laughed. “Don’t start something you can’t finish,” she warned. Easing him away, she stood, brushed off her tattered skirt, tucked in the shirt he had loaned to her, and tightened the belt he’d given her to wear. “And did you have to cut my clothes off?” she joked. “I’m barely keeping this skirt together. I’ll create quite a scandal when we return to Mort Grange.”
“Sorry,” Rupert replied with equal mock sarcasm. “But I was more concerned with keeping you alive.”
She met his eyes. “And I’m concerned with keeping you alive.” Kneeling by his side, Joyce took his face between her hands and kissed him gently on the lips. “In case you have forgotten, I love you.”
“And I love you,” he sighed.
***** The earthquake had given the elder Giles a scare. For a moment, he was certain that it was all over, that he would never have the chance to right so many wrongs.
When the shaking stopped, he pulled himself together. Everything seemed to have returned to normal. And he still had a few hours of daylight to continue tracking Ramsey.
Giles was amazed by the energy he continued to feel. And the strength. Though, perhaps, he shouldn’t be.
Touching the opal earring, he smiled. “Soon,” he murmured. “Soon it will be done. I’ll not be defeated this time. I’ll have what’s mine. All of it.”
***** At Mort Grange, Carruthers Fergusson was trying to calm the members of his household. He had no idea what had just happened, but he did know the importance of keeping a measure of control over his home. Returning to the parlor, he saw Meg clinging to her mother. Morag quieted the child and spoke softly to her about all being right very soon.
Anger swelled in Gussie as he thought about what his cousin had done to them. Meg did not want to leave her mother’s side. Morag was pale with fatigue and worry. He had had enough of this ridiculous game and the danger that was increasingly enveloping his family.
Gussie had been warned about marrying into Morag’s clan, the Munros. They were considered an odd family, with hints of fairy blood in their line. But Gussie loved Morag and refused to listen. And he had no doubts about her love for him. That was why he could forgive her for bedding Wolf and bearing the man’s child. Most people believed that women could not be swayed by so-called “baser” drives of the flesh. Gussie knew better. Men and women were human beings and subject to the same temptations. So as much as Morag’s betrayal had pained him, her true repentance had helped him to forgive. And when Meg was born, he’d also been able to forget.
Anyone who tried to gossip about Morag or Meg soon discovered the wrath of Carruthers Fergusson. Soon no one had any questions about Gussie’s love for them. And though a few people thought that they knew the truth, they also thought twice about spreading such beliefs.
The present danger, however, was Wolf, and Gussie couldn’t take the chance on his coming back and attempting to steal away Meg. Gussie sent messengers to take word to his kinsmen and Morag’s. By morning, there would be men of the Fergusson and Munro clans at Mort Grange, watching over and protecting their kin.
Going to the settee, Gussie took Meg into his arms. “Let your mother rest now, wee one. She’s tired. And I know that you are as well.” He turned to Deborah. “Take her upstairs to rest.” The young woman took Meg and left the room.
As they left, Gussie sat down beside Morag. “Beloved,” he said, pulling her close and kissing her softly. “’Twill all be done soon.”
“Aye,” she murmured, resting against him. “Aye.”
***** Sunnydale – 20th century
“You!” Wolf spat out the word as he glared at the woman who had come through the Mirror. “Why aren’t you in your own time? Mourning?”
The woman ignored the comment. Instead, she spoke to Buffy. At least Buffy assumed it was for her. “Don’t let them out of here,” the woman said, hatred in her voice.
Before Buffy could respond, Robert had grabbed the crossbow from Wesley and aimed for Wolfie. The arrow found its mark and the teenaged vampire howled as he exploded into dust. Meg screeched and threw herself toward Robert, but the mysterious woman met her halfway and plunged her stake into the vampire Meg’s heart. Another demon disappeared.
“He’s getting away!” Willow shouted. Everyone looked up to see Wolf running out the door. Buffy, Angel, Xander, and Oz gave chase. By the time they reached the hallway, Wolf was nowhere to be seen. They listened for a clue as to his direction and heard nothing.
“Shit!” Xander muttered. “Who was that?”
“Wolf Fergusson,” Buffy replied.
“Interesting,” Oz observed. “But what I really want to know is, who was that lady I saw you with?”
Buffy laughed shortly. “Good question,” she said. “Let’s go find out.”
Angel touched Buffy’s arm. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah,” she nodded. “Though I heard some stuff I didn’t want to hear. I’ll be okay.”
“I could go looking for that one.”
“No, it’s too close to daylight. You’d better stay here.”
The four walked back through the library doors. Willow, Cordelia, and Wesley were on one side of the room, watching a most intriguing scene. Robert and the mysterious woman were arguing.
“You did what?!” the woman demanded. “You told her?!”
“Not exactly,” Robert answered. “The Mirror did.”
“What do you mean, the Mirror did?!”
Buffy examined the woman. She was tall, probably about five feet ten. And she was lovely. Not beautiful, Buffy decided, but lovely. She had light brown hair and hazel eyes, and a strong chin strengthened her gentle features. And although Buffy was not very good with ages, she guessed that the woman was in her mid twenties.
About to step further into the room, Buffy was aware that Xander stood stock still next to her. In a voice softer than she’d ever heard from him, he whispered one word.
“Wow.”
Amused by her friend’s reaction to the older woman, Buffy decided not to comment. She simply walked up and introduced herself. “Hello,” she said, interrupting the feuding pair. “I’m Buffy, the Vampire Slayer.” She then turned to Robert. “You didn’t say you were married.”
Both Robert and the woman stared at Buffy. “We’re not married!” Robert blurted out. “We’re—“
“Robert!” the woman snapped, stopping him.
“She already knows!”
Oz leaned toward Willow. “Well, now we know,” he whispered.
“Know what?” Willow asked.
“If it was a boy or a girl,” Oz answered cryptically.
Willow gave him a puzzled expression. Then her eyes lit up. “Of course!” she said loudly.
Buffy glanced at Willow. “What?” she asked.
“Oh, good grief!” Cordelia exclaimed, getting up from her chair and marching toward the trio in front of the Mirror. “Don’t you get it? So much for special powers and me being the dumb one. When you saw the future, there were four little boys and your mom was pregnant!”
Buffy looked back at the woman and then at Robert. Her brother nodded. “She already knows, Guin. The Glass showed her our family. It wanted her to know.”
The woman met Buffy’s eyes as Robert introduced them. “Buffy, this is our sister, Guinevere. She’s the one who’s supposed to be here. Not me.”
***** Scotland – 19th century
As they journeyed to Mort Grange, Joyce could not help admiring the scenery. It had always been a dream of hers to visit the British Isles, and now here she was. And neither power lines nor even paved highways disrupted the Scotland she now viewed. It was a pristine country, with no industrial pollution and sign of “civilization.”
But while she loved the scenery, there were serious drawbacks to not being a part of civilization. One of those drawbacks was the lack of sanitary conditions and modern medicine. And Rupert was now suffering because of that.
While he managed to sit up and ride his horse, Joyce knew that he was in pain and very tired. Once they got back to Mort Grange, she wasn’t certain how they would be able to treat the infection. Penicillin was a long way off in the future. Joyce could only pray that Morag or someone else there would have some knowledge of treating Rupert.
She looked at him now. As they had begun the trip, they had spoken about Ramsey and the Mirror. After a while, however, Rupert’s comments had become less and soon he had become quiet. Joyce realized that it was taking much of his concentration to stay on the horse.
“Amanda?” she called. The Slayer reined in her horse and looked over her shoulder. “Could we take a moment to rest?” Joyce asked.
“Aye!” The girl slipped out of her saddle. Joyce dismounted a little more slowly, stiff and sore from the ride. Rupert, too, got down from his horse very gingerly, unconsciously mimicking Joyce’s own movements. She walked over to him and put her hands on his shoulders. Rupert’s gray pallor disturbed her.
“How are you holding up?” she asked.
He smiled a bit and took her hand, kissing her fingertips. “I’ll be all right, my love,” he said.
Joyce shook her head at him. “You’re putting up a good front, but I can tell—“
“Shhh…” he whispered. “Once we get to Mort Grange, you can fuss over me for a few days. For now, let it go.” He glanced around and then pointed off to his left. “I’m going in that direction,” he said. “You and Amanda can go the other way.”
“What?” Joyce was totally confused.
Rupert grinned at her and started toward the trees he had pointed to. “Well, there aren’t any toilets about, are there?”
Laughing, Joyce realized that she’d better take his advice. When she returned, Amanda headed off into the woods. Rupert had already come back and was having a drink of water. He offered her the deerskin. Joyce couldn’t help but wash her hands, but she tried not to drink as much as she would have liked. The sun was sinking lower into the sky, and Joyce realized that they didn’t have much time to get to the Fergusson house. Best to save some water in case they were delayed even more.
As she thought over plans for a night out in the forest, Rupert touched her arm and then cupped her face in his hands. She met his gaze and the expression in his eyes spoke of unconditional love. Sighing, Joyce leaned against him, sliding her arms around him and breathing deeply of the unique scent that was entirely Rupert.
“What shall we name him?” he asked quietly.
Not needing to ask what he meant, Joyce thought for a moment. “How about Rupert?” she returned.
She could feel him shake his head. “No. I’d rather give him a name entirely his own.”
“Well, how about something like Rupert? Maybe Robert.”
Rupert was quiet for a moment. Then his arms tightened around her. “Yes. Robert. I like that. Robert McAlister Giles.”
Tears came to Joyce’s eyes. She lifted her head to look at this man who had brought to her such a deep and wondrous love. Unable to speak, she simply nodded. And she was more certain than ever that she had to do everything possible to keep him at her side forever more.
***** Sunnydale – 20th century
Buffy looked up into Guinevere’s hazel eyes. Sudden recognition startled her. Those were her own eyes gazing back at her. Guinevere’s face reflected her heritage, showing their mother’s straight nose and Giles’s strong chin and jaw.
“I always wanted a sister,” Buffy said quietly.
The snarls and growls of the vampires still in the cage halted further conversation. Instantly everyone reached again for weapons as the demons began charging the door. The door gave way and the room was suddenly filled again with the vampires. Instead of appearing anxious to fight, however, some of them tried to run. Robert and Guinevere proved to be experienced and able fighters. But Buffy was startled to see her sister shoved into the wall as the vampire she was battling got the advantage. Xander was immediately at Guinevere’s side, staking the demon in the back before Buffy or Robert could get there. Kneeling beside a shaken Guinevere, Xander helped her to her feet and stayed with her until the fight was done. In the end, only three escaped, while the gang took care of the rest.
The air in the library was thick with vampire dust, leaving everyone but Angel coughing. Willow, Oz, and Cordelia began opening windows. Buffy made her way over to Guinevere and Xander. Although he was behaving like a perfect gentleman, it was obvious that Guinevere felt uncomfortable with him and kept avoiding his eyes.
“Are you okay?” Buffy asked, crouching down to check on her sister.
“Yes,” Guinevere answered.
“She got the wind knocked out of her,” said Xander. “I’ll get you some water,” he offered and headed for Giles’s office.
Robert joined his sisters. “Guin?”
“I’m all right, Robbie,” Guinevere said.
“But—“
“I’m all right,” she repeated, a little more forcefully.
Buffy suddenly felt at a loss – and a bit jealous. She didn’t understand entirely, but she did know that there was definitely something they didn’t want her to know. They knew each other. They knew her. She didn’t know them. And she wasn’t sure that she should. This business of messing with the future was dangerous.
“Let me help you up,” Buffy offered, just as Xander got back with the water. He nearly dropped the glass trying to juggle it and help Guinevere at the same time. Buffy couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for her friend as Guinevere all but shrank from his touch. He didn’t seem to notice, however. It was clear that Xander was smitten with the older woman.
As Guinevere sat down at the table, Buffy smiled at her. “I feel kind of funny,” Buffy admitted. “You guys know me and I don’t know you. But, like I said, I always did want a sister.”
Guinevere smiled gently. “Well, you do make a great big sister.” She looked at the faces of the others in the room. Buffy realized that, like Robert, Guinevere was seeing them all with fresh eyes. They knew these people, but older versions of them. How weird it would be to meet them all as teens. Or, in Wesley’s case, a brand new, insecure Watcher. As for Angel, well, he wouldn’t look any different.
“Willow. Oz.” Guinevere nodded at each of them. “Cordelia. Wesley. Angel.” In turn, everyone said hello to her. There was slight hesitation before Buffy’s sister acknowledged the last person in the room. “Xander. Thank you for your help.”
“I’m just glad you’re okay,” he replied.
Guinevere spared another second for him before turning to her brother. “What are you doing here?” she asked, exasperation in her tone. “You’re supposed to be in Scotland. With Mum and Dad.”
“I was intercepted,” he said, going on to explain about the stone and how it came to be in Buffy’s possession. “It was entirely an accident,” he concluded. “And I thought you were right behind me. I’ve been here for hours. What took you so long?”
“I went through right after you,” Guinevere said. “Remember that time doesn’t work the same on the other side of the Glass. So what have you been doing all this time? Why haven’t you tried to go on to the past?”
“I thought that there must be a reason I was here.”
“Oh!” Guinevere stood and began to pace. “You couldn’t take the initiative?! You know how important it is to be there!”
“So sorry, Guin, but I’m not the know-all expert on the Mirror that you are!”
Buffy got between them. “Stop!” she ordered. “That’s enough!”
Immediately the siblings shut up. Buffy tried to hide a smile. [They must be used to taking orders from me] she thought. [Cool.] She turned to Robert. “Why is it so important for you to be in the past?”
Her brother hesitated before answering. “For the same reason that Mum and Dad are there. To stop the misuse of the Mirror. Only it was decided that I could help because there are other things happening that alter the future. Things that have no direct connection to the misuse of the Mirror.”
Wesley joined the three. “Then why are you here, Miss Giles? Or may I call you Guinevere?”
Guinevere nodded. “Yes, of course. I’m not Miss Giles anyway. I’m – “ She stopped. “That is, I’m – I was married.” The young woman took a deep breath. “To another Watcher.”
Xander pulled a chair over to Guinevere. “Please sit down,” he invited. “You still look a little pale.”
“Time travel,” she replied, not meeting his eyes.
Something in Guinevere’s voice set off alarms in Buffy’s mind – and heart. “Mourning,” she said softly. “Wolf said you should be in mourning. He killed Mom and Giles – and your husband.”
Tears sprang to her sister’s eyes, but Guinevere quickly blinked them away. “Yes,” she replied. “But, if Robert and I succeed, we’ll change that. I’m here to control the Mirror in the present. If needed, to bring Mum and Dad back to Sunnydale, when the time comes for them to return. And to take myself and Robert back to where we belong.”
“But,” Oz interrupted, “what if that’s not what’s supposed to happen? After all, you and Robert represent only one possible timeline.”
“True,” Robert said. “But we do know that something in our own timeline went terribly wrong. And the best we could track down leads us to Scotland when Mum and Dad were there.”
“Which is why you need to haul ass back to the past,” Xander concluded. “Makes sense in a Star Trek kind of way.”
As Xander spoke, Guinevere turned away. Buffy watched as Guinevere folded her arms and bit her lip. She wondered if it was Xander’s use of the word ‘ass’ that had somehow upset her sister. But that seemed silly. Surely that wasn’t uncommon in the 21st century. Glancing toward Robert, Buffy saw sadness in his eyes as he looked at Guinevere. Then he turned to Xander.
“Yes,” Robert agreed. “We think we know what happened. I need to go back to warn Mum and Dad.”
Guinevere straightened and turned back to the group. “Right. This has been a cock up from the start,” she said bluntly. “Robert, you need to prepare to go on to Scotland. Everyone else, there’s not much to do until the time comes for their return. Take a break and relax.”
Angel frowned. “Why are you suddenly in charge?” he asked.
“Because I’m the one, besides Robert, who knows most about what’s happening here,” Guinevere stated flatly. “However,” she went on, glancing around the library, “I do admit that I don’t know where the toilet is.”
Buffy pointed toward Giles’s office. “In there.”
“Ta.” Guinevere headed for the restroom.
The gang settled down at the study table, although Xander continued to watch Guinevere as she exited the room. Buffy couldn’t help smiling and feeling protective at the same time. She just wasn’t certain which one she should protect. Still, she didn’t feel any real concern. With Guinevere being from the future, a romance was definitely out.
She looked at Robert. A look of concern was on his face. “Is she always so take charge?” she asked.
Robert smiled. “Guin has Father’s brain and Mother’s will,” he said. “Makes for quite a daunting combination.”
Buffy laughed. “I can imagine.”
“Only four people have ever had much influence on her: Mum, Dad, you, and – her husband.”
She looked at Robert and grinned. “Think it’ll work for me even now?”
“Perhaps.” His eyes were soft as he looked at Buffy. “She absolutely adores you.”
Buffy blushed and looked away.
Xander joined the others at the table, still looking in the direction of Giles’s office. Cordelia punched him in the arm. “Get your eyeballs back in your head!” she ordered. “She’s way too old for you and she hasn’t even been born yet!”
“And if anyone can translate that sentence,” Xander said to all at large, “send your entry to—“
“Anyone else think about how weird this is?” Willow asked.
“As compared to our regular, everyday, humdrum existence?” Oz returned.
“I’m serious,” Willow said. “We might be learning too much about the future. It could affect not only our lives but also world events! And Robert told Buffy that she lives to retirement. So what if she gets careless now, thinking that she’s going to live. And then she gets into a vamp battle one night and makes a mistake and – well, you know. That could change everything!”
She stopped as she realized that she had the attention of everyone in the room – including Buffy. Blushing, Willow fell silent. The rest of the gang, too, couldn’t help thinking over her words.
“She’s right.”
All eyes turned to Guinevere as she left Giles’s office. “She’s right,” Guinevere repeated. “But, on the other hand, who really knows what will happen? We have to live our lives one day at a time.” She sat beside Buffy. “It would have been best if you’d not known who Robert is or who I am. But don’t let that knowledge hinder how you live your life. You have good instincts. Use them.”
Guinevere’s words touched Buffy. “I’ll try,” she agreed.
The sisters sat a moment longer. Buffy could see tears in Guinevere’s eyes. Then, just as rapidly as they had come, Guinevere blinked them away. “Right, then,” she said. “Robert, are you ready to go on?”
“So quickly?” he joked. “All right, I suppose you’re right. Just give me a few minutes. Wesley? Would you show Guin the diary that you’ve been studying? Morag’s diary? There could be some last minute information that I’ll need and Guin’s the expert on anything to do with the Munro clan and their connection to the Glass.”
Wesley brightened at the prospect. Buffy wondered if he, too, was smitten with Guinevere. As her sister went over to Wesley, Robert tapped Buffy’s arm. “Please keep an eye on her,” he whispered. “She’s – well, she’s not in the best condition for this.”
“What do you mean?” Buffy asked.
“She’s just lost her husband,” Robert went on. “And—“ He glanced toward Guinevere. “She’s pregnant.”
“Oh, my god,” Buffy said. The grief that Guinevere was going through had to be compounded by knowing that her child’s father was dead.
“There’s more,” continued Robert. “I really shouldn’t be telling you this, but there’s another reason being here is very hard on Guin right now. You see, her husband – “ Pausing, he lowered his voice even more. “Her husband was Xander.”
Buffy’s jaw dropped. “But – but – he’s older than her!” she said. “Way older.”
“She was 24 and he was 50 when they married.” Robert smiled. “Dad had a hard time accepting it. So did Edward and Stewart.” At Buffy’s puzzled expression, he explained. “The twins. Edward and Stewart. But you and Mum and Cameron – and I – well, there was no doubt that they loved each other.
“So, you see why this is very rough for Guin. Please keep an eye on her while I’m gone.”
Buffy could only nod – and look at Xander.
***** Scotland – 19th century
“We’re almost there,” Amanda called over her shoulder. “Only about a mile now.”
Joyce was relieved to here the news. In the past hour, she could see Rupert growing weaker. She reached over to touch his shoulder. He gave her a tired smile.
Intent on Rupert, Joyce almost missed Amanda’s suddenly reining in her horse. Joyce looked up to see what the problem was. There, by the side of the road, was Wolf Fergusson.
“Well, now,” he said. “Would ye look here? My interfering kinswoman. And her Sassenach lover.”
Although the sun was low in the sky, Joyce knew that there was still enough light to cook a vampire. So the man who stood before them now obviously could not be the Wolf they had met the previous evening. Which meant…
Rupert eased a hand into his coat where his pistol was. “What do you want?” he asked harshly.
Wolf smiled as he watched Rupert. Joyce knew that he could tell that Rupert was weak and shaking. “The same thing you want. The Glass. Ramsey took it from me.” Wolf urged his horse forward. “But I can remedy that.” He pulled a gun from inside his own coat. “You!” Wolf hissed, aiming at Joyce. “You’re part of the blood. You can help me with the Glass. Come with me, or I’ll kill your lover.”
Being weak and sick, Rupert’s reactions were slow.
Joyce’s weren’t.
This time she didn’t wait as she had done with Philan. She gave no thought to what the vampire Wolf had told them about standing before the Mirror with his evil self. Joyce only knew that this Wolf would not hesitate to kill Rupert and Amanda and take her hostage. So she took the only way out that she could see. She simply pulled out her own pistol and fired at Wolf.
Wolf cried out as the bullet hit his shoulder.
At the same moment, miles away, the vampire Wolf, hiding from daylight, also cried out in pain.
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